Al-Anon Offers Life-Savers for Families of Alcoholics to Use During the Holidays

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Techniques learned in Al-Anon help families of alcoholics come away from the holidays with an attitude of gratitude, instead of with the regrets and resentments that used to accompany family celebrations at this time of year.

Al-Anon Family Groups

Fear and apprehension for relatives of alcoholics is understandable prior to attending holiday gatherings.

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Families and friends of alcoholics might find themselves at the mercy of unpredictable changes of plans during the holiday season. “Drinking problems can interfere with family events at the last minute,” Al-Anon Information Analyst Pamela Walters said. “No one likes to disappoint children or members of the extended family at this special time of the year. Fear and apprehension for relatives of alcoholics is understandable prior to attending holiday gatherings,” Walters said.

Judy is an anonymous Al-Anon member who uses techniques she learned in Al-Anon to help her cope with stressful situations. “Before we arrived for the holidays, I spoke gently and kindly about my concerns to my husband, who is an active drinker,” Judy said. “I didn’t want him getting into heated arguments with relatives. Later, I spoke with my son and his wife about our ‘plan B,’ so we would have something else to do if my husband became drunk and difficult. That way, we would have fun things to do, no matter what happened.”

Judy said, “The tools for living that I get from Al-Anon Family Groups are life-savers for me during the holidays. Now, I’m looking for the joy in each day and with each cherished member of our family.” Judy said, “The result is now I come away from the holidays with an attitude of gratitude, instead of the regrets and resentments that used to follow me home after the holidays, before I started attending Al-Anon.”

Al-Anon Family Groups are for families and friends who have been affected by a loved one’s drinking. Nearly 16,000 local groups meet throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico every week. Al-Anon Family Groups meet in more than 130 countries, and Al-Anon literature is available in more than 40 languages. Al-Anon Family Groups have been offering strength and support to families and friends of problem drinkers since 1951. Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. acts as the clearinghouse worldwide for inquiries from those who need help or want information about Al-Anon Family Groups and Alateen, its program for teenage members.

For more information about Al-Anon Family Groups, visit al-anon.org and read a copy of Al-Anon’s annual public outreach magazine “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2016.” Find a local meeting by calling toll-free: 1-888-4AL-ANON.